Echo on March 26, 2010 | reply

@luolin,

Both of these two words can be used as adverbs meaning "originally".

When indicating time, we can only use yuan2lai2 before a noun as an adjective. For example, 他是我原来的男朋友。(He's my ex-boyfriend.)

We can also use ben3lai2 before a noun, but it means "originally". For example, 这张地图太旧了，本来的颜色更好看。(This map is worn out. The original color was prettier.)

We can also use ben3lai2 to indicate "something should be this way on principle". For example, 他还在生病，本来就不应该去。(He's still sick. He shouldn't go on principle.)

When we use yuan2lai2 as an adverb, we can indicate "something we didn't know". For example, 大家都找不到你，原来你在这儿！(Nobody could find you. You are here!)

--Echo

echo@popupchinese.com